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Zardari calls for change in mindset

ISLAMABAD: At a time when Pakistan is facing its worst humanitarian crisis, President Asif Ali Zardari used his Independence Day message to the nation to press for replacing the security-driven orientation with a welfare mindset.

Calling for introspection on whether Pakistan had lived up to the vision of its founding fathers, Mr. Zardari said: “Violent extremism has tended to make Pakistan a security driven rather than a welfare driven country. Let us, therefore, on this day also resolve to defeat the militant mindset and make Pakistan a truly welfare driven than a security driven state.”

Confident that a resilient Pakistan would turn the challenge posed by the flooding into an opportunity, Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani said: “The nation will confront the challenges as it did at the time of Partition… This time too we shall succeed.”

For the most part, the Prime Minister detailed the scale of the devastation and the efforts being made by the government and the international community to cope with the unfolding emergency which has affected 20 million people across the country.

India also found mention in his televised address: “In pursuance of our objective of a peaceful and stable neighbourhood, and for resolving disputes with India, we firmly believe that dialogue is the only way forward.” And, for peace and stability in South Asia, Pakistan would continue to advocate a strategic restraint regime.

On Afghanistan, Mr. Gilani said Pakistan would continue to support an Afghan-led process of reconciliation.

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